Dies Shootout

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Bigbottom

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Hello Gunnutz,

I'm just starting into reloading and I'm now at the stage that I will be buying dies. I would like to buy once. The calibers I'm getting into will be 45 ACP, 9mm, 38/357 and 30-30. (45 being the first) I'm looking at buying carbide only and I've had recommendations at the local club to buy RCBS. The problem is that I would need to special order these because every retailer locally sells and stocks Lee and Hornady. So what would you recommend? Should I buy Green, Blue, Yellow, Red or Redder? ( RCBS, Dillon, Lee or Hornady)

Thanks and I will be using a 20 year old single stage Lee press
 
I'm happy as hell with my Hornady's. No issues at all.

If you go that route for 45 and 9mm then get the extra taper crimp die and seat with no crimp on the seating die then taper crimp with the extra die.
 
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Check out CGN Dealers and Amazon.ca
If you are really set on getting RCBS dies.

https: //www.amazon.ca/RCBS-Carbide-3-Trapper-Crimped-Automatic/dp/B000GU9WNU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1512834212&sr=8-2&keywords=RCBS+45
 
Used to use Lee dies (and with all things, their hand press!) and get consistent sub MOA performance from a Remington 700 heavy barreled rifle, and from a Savage in 223.

I have no doubt paying more for brands like Redding, etc gets you better results. But I am happy with what I get out of all of my Lee dies...for what I use them for.
 
I got pistol caliber dies from RCBS and LEE and both work well. RCBS guys gonna roast me for this but for the money, I would buy the Lee Pacesetetr 4 die set for less money than the RCBS 3 die set. If you do go RCBS, add on a Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die to your order for pistol ammo, you'll thank me later.
 
For pistol I'm liking Dillon dies. Have a feature that they can be taken apart easily without removing from plate. Used Lee as well, they work.

Rifle dies I've used RCBS, Lee, and Redding all successfully. I'm liking the Redding a bit more than the others.
 
I second the Dillon dies for the pistol cartridges. They will serve you well when you upgrade to a progressive press. You would also need a neck expander if you are loading on a single stage, so throw in a Lyman M die, as well.

For rifle cartridges, I use RCBS, but I'm sure any of the others will be OK. You do need to crimp if your ammunition is going through a tube magazine. This can be done with the seating die, or you can use a separate crimp die. If the latter, I like the Lee Factory Crimp dies.
 
hogie said:
For pistol I'm liking Dillon dies. Have a feature that they can be taken apart easily without removing from plate. Used Lee as well, they work.

Rifle dies I've used RCBS, Lee, and Redding all successfully. I'm liking the Redding a bit more than the others.
Click to expand...


If price isn't the "end all" consideration Dillon have a couple of features that set them apart and might justify a bit more cash layout to you... The above mentioned feature is very good if you plan on loading cast lead bullets lubed with wax, When wax build-up in the seating die builds up so that it interferes with seating depth or ...in worst case scenario's grips & pulls the seated bullet back out. you simply remove a snap clip, remove and clean die bore and re-install, no need to readjust your die back to original setting
The second feature that I like is the spring loaded primer removing pin that sort of "snaps" the old primer from the end if the pin eliminates re-seating spent primers that other makes sometimes do.

All the above being said, all the other brands work very well and do the job required with or without the extra crimping dies others have suggested.
 
For pistol, Lee deluxe 4 die is my choice.

I lube the cases even though sizing and crimp die is carbide. They are easy to set up and to clean. Never had a problem with Lee dies.

Keep an eye out for sales on Amazon and X-Reload.
 
I load for rifle and have dies from most of the companies. As the others said they are all decent and do the job, but if someone asked me I would advise them to buy the Forster dies. They arn't much more price wise but work really well and run-out IMO is kept to a minium. The seater die is great and the adjustable expander on the sizing die spindle works good.JMO
 
The few times a die didn't work for me it was RCBS. The bullet crimp in the seating die was a pain to set up properly and the face of the die was flat which failed when the shell was not 100% aligned. I kept damaging brass when I drove up the press arm and they were slightly out of alignment.

IME Lee dies are great all round dies both for Rifle and Pistol. They are by far the best bang for the buck. The Neck Collet dies are great for accurate rifle loads. The factory crimp dies are great in both rifle and pistol. In a progressive press the Dillon dies are the best as they all have belled faces to keep things moving quickly even when alignment is out a bit.

I have Redding, Hornady, and lyman dies as well and they're nicely made and work great but I can't say they're worth the extra cost over any of the others. YMMV
 
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My preference for pistol back in the IPSC days was the Dillon carbide 3 die set - still going strong 20 years later. Recommend that you also look at the Hornady lock rings - makes die removal and resetting much easier with the ring locked onto the die.
 
Any brand will do, especially for pistol calibres. I'm not sure what you're loading on but try to avoid seating and crimping in one operation.
 
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